Method of and an apparatus for working material



H. D. PIPER Feb. 17, 1931.

METHOD OF AND AN APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIAL Filed Feb. 28, 192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet l H. D. PIPER Feb. 17,1931.

METHOD OF AND AN APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIAL Filed Feb. 28,}927 3 sheets-sheet .2

Feb. 17, 1931. l-i. D. PIPER.

METHOD OF AND'AN APPARATUS FOR WORKING MATERIAL Filed Feb. 28, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 1'7, ,1931

UNITED STATES TE T OFFICE may. nmrron rum, or cmcaeo, rumors, assrenon ro wn srn'mr ELECTRIC comm, mconrom'rnn, or mzw YORK, N. Y., A coaronarron or NEW YORK nnrrron or AND an Arrma'rus FOR won'xme ira'rnman App1ication filed February 28, 1927'. Serial No. 171,711.

This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for working material, and more particularly to a method of and an apparatus for-producing strip material.-

One manner of increasing the inductance of a conductor employed for the transmission of alternating current is to wrap the conductor spirally with a layer of wire or tape of magnetic-material. This method is known in the art as continuous inductive loading as distinguished from lump loading by means of coils distributed along the conductor. Until recently iron has been considered to be the only material available for continuous load-' 15 ing. It has been discovered, however, that a more suitable material may be produced in.

the form of an alloy of nickel and iron. This material is known as permalloy. When the two metals are in proper proportions and. the 2 alloy is given proper heat treatment, a material having very high permeability at low magnetizing force is obtained. The ingredi ents of the magnetic alloy, permalloy for example, are first fused together in an induction furnace, then molded into the form of a bar or rod, and may then be worked or drawn down preferably into the form of a wire of desired diameter and hardness. If the loading material is to be in the form of a tape or strip, whichis one of the. preferred forms, the

wire is given a plurality of passes between a pair of pressure rolls and flattened into a very thin strip. To provide for a predetermined uniform inductance throughout the length of permalloy strip be of substantially uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout its length. Heretofore in the production of permalloy strip material, particularly where a drawn wire is worked to form a flat strip, it has been diflicult to produce strips having predetermined uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout their length. One of the reasons for this is that the drawn wire is not always of uniform diameter along its entire length, due to various factors, one of which ,is the gradual wear on the drawing dies; Also during the subsequent annealing process the wire may not be uniformly anthe loaded conductor it is necessary that the nealed throughout its entire length, due

different causes, thus resulting in various de-.

grees of hardness in the wire. These defects in the drawn and annealed wire in the subsequent forming thereof into a very thin tape or strip produces at times a product which is not of uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout its length. For a full disclosure of the metallurgical and electrical characteristics of this alloy and its heat treatment, reference is made to Patents 1,586,884

to. G. W. Elmen, June 1,1926, 1,586,874 to O. E. Buckley, June 1, 1926, and 1,586,887 to G. W. Elmen, June 1, 1926.,

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved method of and an improved apparatus for producin from material of varying dimensions an characteris-.

tics strip material having predetermined uniform dimensions and uniform characteristics throughout its length. v

In accordance with the general features of this invention as practiced in one embodiment thereof; for the production of strip permalloy, a pluralityof wires composed of such' material arefirst subjected to pressure .su'ificient to flatten them into very thin strips.

Thereafter the strips are simultaneously drawn between sets of oppositely disposed rolls ind vidual to eachstrip, wherebythe opposite edges of the strip are subjected to lateral pressure,"depending on the ultimate width desired and-the amount ,of reductiont in thickness thereof due to the lateral surel'f f f 85 to pressure. Such an arrangement enables the simultaneous production of a plurality of faces of the strips being thereafter subjectedstrips having predetermined uniform dimensions and uniform characteristics throughout their, length, which are: very essential inthe case of continuous loading of signaling conductors'. v

Other objects and advantages of this in-.

vention will more fully appear from the' following detailed description taken in con- =1 nection withthe accompanying drawings, in

which I v Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an apparatus embodying the features of this inview of a portion of Fig. 1 showing a unit comprising the strip edging and molding rolls and associated rolls for preventing buckling of the strip;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 thereof;

Fig. 5 is a greatly enlarged fra mentary plan view of the central portion of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of 'a poriton of Fig. 1 showing the strip guides associated with the pressure rolls at the entrance and exit sides of the rolls;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section there through, and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate similar parts throughout the several views, Figs.

-1 and 2 illustrate diagrammatically an apparatus designed to simultaneously produce six identical flat strips 10 of predetermined uniform dimensions and uniform characteristics throughout their entire length, which includes a rolling mill comprisingthe usual frame 11 including a pair of parallel, power driven rolls 12. The rolls 12 are shaped with journals 13 on either end thereof, which turn in suitable bearings14 carried by the frame 11 and upon one end terminate in a pair of shafts 15 and 16 by means of which the rolls may be driven from a suitable source of power (not shown). The rolls 12 are positioned with respect to each other by means of adjusting screws 19 which-engage each pair of oppositely disposed rolls 26 and 27 one of the bearings 14 associated with the upper roll 12 as indicated in Fig. 2 for adjusting the pressure exerted upon the strips passing between the rolls, separating springs 20 positioned between the bearings tending to separate the rolls upon releasing the screws.

Each of the strips 10 tobe worked, which strips have been suitably flattened by successive passes between pressure rolls (not shown) to very thin strips, for instance .008 of an inch in thickness from wire of a suitable diameter, is carried in coil form upon a supplyreel 21 (Fig. 2) mounted upon a standard 22 fixed to the floor. From its associated reel 21 each of the strips 10 is drawn upwardly and through a stationary guide block 23 which directs the strip between two each journaled in a carriage 28 in turn reciprocally mounted in a frame 29. The carriages 28 are each fixed to a micrometer screw 30 to permit an accurate adjustment of the rolls 26 and 27 which engage opposite surfaces of the strip 10. As clearlfi illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 the rolls 26 ear against the opposite narrow edges of the strip and with even edges and a uniform width throughout its length, as will be referred to again hereinafter. It is to be noted that the pressure exerted upon the strip 10 from the rolls 26 and 12 is suflicient to mold the strip to such an extent that the characteristics thereof will be uniform throughout its entire length, thus remedying the conditions at times occurring in the drawn wire due to the non-uniform annealing thereof. The rolls 27 are positioned adjacent the opposite wide faces of the strip with just sufficient clearance therebetween to eliminate friction for the purpose of preventing buckling or distortion of the strip during its subjection to lateral pressure by the molding rolls 26. Re ferring to Fig. 5 it will be noted that the rolls 26 are provided with a plurality of annular channels 33 having beveled opposite walls 34, which formation serves to prevent the strip 10 from moving laterally thereon, while a plurality of channels is provided so that when one channel becomes worn the rolls may be adjusted to align another channel in Upon passing from between the rolls 26 and 27 each of the strips 10 is guided over and under grooved rolls 35 and thence through a guide mechanism 36, shown in enlarged detail in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, which serves to guide the strips 10 along a horizontal plane equidistant the axes of the rolls 12 and under a suitable tension.

The guide mechanism 36 comprises a block 39 which extends almost up to the peripheral surface of the rolls 12 upon the entrance side thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 7 and is clamped as indicated at 40 to a table 41 carried upon the frame 11 of the mill. Formed in the upper surface of the block 39 at either end thereof is a plurality of longitudinally extending channels 42 equal in number to the strips 10 being worked for preventing lateral movement of the strips as they pass to the rolls 12. Supported upon the upper surface of the block 39 is a plate 43 provided at either end with shouldered slots 44 corresponding in number to the channels 42 in the block 39 and aligned vertically therewith, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. Reciprocally mounted for vertical movement in each of the slots '44 is a shoe 45', the lower end of the edge of the which engages the upper surface of the strip 10 being advanced through the channel 42. The shoes 45 are urged downwardly with sufficient force-to provide asuitable tension or drag upon the strips as they enter between the rolls 12 by leaf s'prin s 46 hearing at one end upon the upper surface of the shoes 45 with their opposite ends fixed to the plate 43. The plate 43 is secured in operative position upon the block 39 by a camwheel 47 journaled upon a shaft ends in ears 49 formed upon the table 41. A. handle 52 is provided for rotating the cam wheel 47, which as shown in'the drawings, particularly referring to Fig. 7, has been rotated counter-clockwise to clamp the-plate v 43 against the block 39, a rotation in a reverse direction it will be apparent will release the plate 43.- 4

Upon the right side of the rolls 12 is a sec-,

ond" guide block 53 mounted upon a table 54 in a'manner similar to that of the block 39 f upon the table 41 and likewise secured to the frame 11 of the mill. Also formed in the block 53 at either end thereof are 'a plurality of channels 55 similar to the channels 42 of the block 39 which serve to revent the strips 10 from swerving to one si they emerge from between the rolls 12. It

will be apparent that by means of the grooved rolls 35 and the guide mechanism 36 the thin metal strips 10 are guided under tension practically to the very point of contact with the rolls 12 and buckling or overlapping of the strips between the rolls 26 and 27 and the pressure rolls 12 is minimized. The guide mechanism 36' cooperating with the guide block 53fserves to guide the thin strips 10 to and from the rolls 12 on-a horizontal plane intermediate the axes thereofand at -right angles thereto, thus eliminating all tendency of the strips being distorted-in therolling operation. The two rolls-'12'it is understood should be of exactly the same] diameter with their axes positioned parallel andbotli'should From guide lock 53 each of the curately distributed upon the rec by a traversing finger. 59 designed to lay the strip ...close- ,to either head of the reel, the

, finger being-operated back and forthbetween the heads of the .reel' by a carriage 60 receiving motion from a suitablesource of power (not 1 shown) In practicing the improved method of producing" strip material, particularly g permalloy strip material by the apparatus herein described, the strips 10,

which, as previously described, have preferably been produced from wire of suitable diameter flattened by a. plurality of passes between pressure rolls 48 supported at opposite e or the other as O-'-pass over groovedlguide rolls 56j'and' {thence to a suitably driven take-up reel 57 l mounted upon a standard 58. The strip is ac-' edges of the strips entered within one of the annular channels 33 of each of the rolls 26 and the opposite wide faces of the tapes lying m close association with the oppositely disposed peripheral faces of the rolls 27. Thenceforth the strips are guided to the pressure rolls 12 by means of the grooved rolls 35 and the guide mechanism 36, between the rolls 12, through the guide block 53, over the grooved guide rolls 56 andthenceto the takeup reels 57, where in-operation the fingers 59 through the reciprocatory movement of the carriage 60 accurately distribute the completed strips upon the reels. Upon the pressure rolls 12 being positioned along with the take-up reels 57.

with their axes v in the same plane and set to exert a suitable pressure upon the strip they are set in motion The-edging or molding rolls '26 of each unit are adjusted as previously described to exert suflicient pressure upon the narrow opposite edges of the associated strip to produce a strip of uniform width with smooth edges throughout its entire length, the adjustment being such that the lateral pressure exerted upon the opposite edges of the strip molds the strip substantially to its ultimate or desired Width. The advancing strip thus acted upon by the rolls 26 passes through the rolls 12, the pressure of which is just suflicient to reduce it to a desired uniform predetermined thickness, the slight excess metal displaced due to this pressure flowing toward the sides of the strip without appreciably increasing the width form width and thickness throughout its.

length and with smooth edges and of uniform ,1

characteristics.

During the operation of theapparatus an attendant 'may measure the width and thickness of the strips as they pass from the guide block 53 and before they reach the take-up reels 57 in any suitable manner, and if the width or thickness thereof falls above maximum or below minimum limits the molding rolls 26 associated with the particular strip are adjustedto provide substantially the desired width of strip, whichwidth will not be appreciably altered in the subsequent subection of the strip to pressure by the rolls 12 which serve toproduce the desired thickness of the strips.

What is claimed is: 1. The method of producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout its length from materialof varying dimensions and characteristics, which consists in reducing the Width of the material to substantially its ultimate i form dimensions and characteristics.

a the width thereof to substantially its ing it ing the width thereof 2. The method of producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout its length from material of varying dimensions and characteristics, which consists in subjecting the material. to ilateral pressure to reduce the width thereof to substantially its ultimate width and immediately thereafter subjecting it to pressure to cause a reduction in its thickness without appreciably varying the width thereof to produce a strip of predetermined uni- I form dimensions and characteristics.

3. The method of producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout its length from material of varying dimensions and characteristics, which consists in passing the material between a plurality of rolls for subjecting the material to lateral pressure to reduce ultimate width, and thereafter reducing its thickness without appreciably varying the width thereof to produce a strip of predetermined uniform dimensions.

4. The method of producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout its length from material of varying dimensions, which consists in continuously passing the material between a plurality of rolls for subjecting the material to lateral pressure to reduce the width thereof to substantially its ultimate Width, and contemporaneously therewith subjecting an advanced portion of the strip to pressure by passage between a plurality of rolls to cause a reduction in its thickness without appreciably varying the width thereof 'to produce a strip of predetermed uniform dimensions.

5. The method of producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout its length from material of varying dimensions, which consists in reducing the width of the material to substantially its ultimate width and thereafter guiding the strip under tension between a pair of rolls and at right angles to the axes thereof for subjectto pressure without appreciably varyto produce a strip of predetermined dimensions.

6. The method of cold working a nickel iron alloy strip to produce a strip of substantially uniform thickness and width throughout its length, which consists in reducing the width of the strip to substantially its ultimate width and thereafter reducing its thickness without appreciably varying the width thereof to produce a strip of predetermined Y uniform dimensions.

7 In an apparatus for producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions and characteristics throughout its length from a strip of varying dimensions and characteristics, peripherally channeled rolls for subjecting the opposite lateral edges of the strip to pressure to reduce the width thereof to substantially its ultimate width, the edges of the strip engaging in the channels of the rolls to prevent relative transverse movement therebetween, power driven rolls positioned to receive the strip from the channeled rolls for advancing the strip between the channeled rolls and shaped. to reduce the thickness of the strip without appreciably varying the width thereof, and friction means positioned between the channeled rolls and the power driven rolls. Y

8. In an. apparatus for producing strip material of substantially uniform dimensions throughout its length from a strip of varying dimensions, adjustable peripherally channeled rolls for subjecting the opposite lateral edges of the strip to pressure to reduce the width thereof to substantially its ultimate width, the edges of the strip engaging in the channels of the rolls to prevent relative transverse movement therebetween, rolls positioned adjacent opposite sides of the strip to prevent distortion thereof during its subj ection to lateral pressure, power driven rolls positioned to receive the strip from the channeled rolls for advancing the strip between the channeled rolls and adapted to reduce the thickness of the strip without appreciably varying the width. hereof, and guiding means positioned between the channeled rolls and the power driven .rolls.

9. In an apparatus for producing strip material to substantially uniform dimensions throughout its lengthfrom a strip of varying dimensions, a pair of channeled rolls for subjecting the opposite lateral edges of the material to pressure to reduce the width thereof to substantially its ultimate width, a pair of individually adjustable rolls positioned adjacent opposite sides of the strip and ar ranged with their axes in a substantially common plane with the axes of the width reducing rolls to prevent distortion of the strip during the width reducing operation, power driven rolls for-advancing the strip between the width reducing rolls and for reducing the thickness of the strip, and guiding means positioned between the channeled rolls and the power driven rolls.

10. In an apparatus for producing strip material, a pair of opposed channeled pressure rolls for reducing the width of the strip and forming the edges thereof, frictional guiding means positioned to receive the strip from the channeled rolls, and means for drawing the strip through the channeled rolls and the guiding means and for simultaneously compressing it at right angles to the direction of the pressure applied by the channeled rolls to thereby reduce its thickness.

11. The method of producing conductor loading material in strip form of substantially uniform dimensions and'characteristics throughout its length from material of varying dimensions and characteristics, which consists in engaging, the edges of cold strip material during the advancement thereof to reduce the width of the material to its ultimate determinable width, and thereafter applying pressure to reduce its thickness without appreciably varying the width thereof to present a strip having characteristics essential to the effective use thereof for conductor loading purposes.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of February A. D.,

HARRY DENTON PIPER. 

